The document summarizes a 5-year study that analyzed over 7,000 private companies. It compared the top 9 highest performing companies to 9 comparison companies. It also conducted field studies in 53 additional companies. The study found that the top companies grew revenue 3 times faster than industry average and had returns on equity and sales that were 2 times the industry average. When $1 was invested in each of the 6 public breakthrough companies identified in the study, the returns significantly outpaced the S&P 500 over a 10 year period after their IPOs. The document provides examples of some of the breakthrough companies studied.